Professional athletes in team sports have a double agenda. They want to win titles with their franchise, but they also are very much in the business of maximizing their earnings. Fortunately for all, the two are mutually supporting goals. Hitting free agency after your team has done well tends to lead to bigger paychecks. The so-called contract year, or the final year of their old deal, is when those future riches can be secured.
As our One Cool Customer compiled earlier this year, the Dallas Cowboys have 34 players who are on expiring contracts this season.